Smith College Science Center Outreach Kits and Materials Available to Borrow
| Kit or Activity Description | Class set or individual | Target Grade | Notes/Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Design Process: Making Paper Bridges | Class set for up to 30 students | 5th-8th | Inexpensive to run, minimal pre-knowledge needed |
| Engineering Design Process: Making a Flashlight | Class set for up to 25 students | Primarily 6th-8th but can easily be adapted to lower or higher grades | Some have used this for an intro to circuits and electricity |
| Rocks vs. Minerals | Class set for up to 30 students | 5th-6th grade | Kit has students looking at properties and characteristics of minerals to identify an unknown rock sample |
| Electro Magnet activity and exploration | Class set for 24 students | 5th-9th grade | Students explore the variables in creating an electro magnet hat will pick up paper clips. We are using rechargeable “D” size batteries and the charger travels with the kit |
| Sally Ride Kit- Astronomy Each box contains 4 sets of 8 books. The topics in this set are Dwarf Planets, Exoplanets, Stars and Tools of Astronomy | I have 3 box kits | The literature indicates 4th-8th but I am guessing it is more on the upper end of that range. | The kits contain just the reading material, no activities. They are colorful and engaging and some use them as an ELA assignment to be further discussed in science class |
| Sally Ride Kit - Science Careers Each box contains 4 sets of 8 books. The topics in this set are Careers in Earth Science, Careers in Environmental Sciences, Careers in Health Sciences and Careers in Space Science | I have 3 box kits | The literature indicates 4th-8th but I am guessing it is more on the upper end of that range. | The kits contain just the reading material, no activities. They are colorful and engaging and some use them as an ELA assignment to be further discussed in science class |
| Sally Ride Kit - Solar System Each box contains 4 sets of 8 books. The topics in this set are The Inside Story of the Sun, The Inside Story of the Earth, The Inside Story of the Moon and The Inside Story of Mars | I have 2 or 3 box kits | The literature indicates 4th-8th but I am guessing it is more on the upper end of that range. | The kits contain just the reading material, no activities. They are colorful and engaging and some use them as an ELA assignment to be further discussed in science class |
| Intro to Circuits Kit Inquiry based kit has students explore circuits, conductors and non-conductors | Class set for 15 to 18 | 5th-8th but works best at 5th and 6th | |
| Engineering Design Process: Pringles Challenge Design, create and test a mailing package for a single Pringles chip | Single demonstration kit | 4th-8th | Fun and can be inexpensive but takes a little time to collect the "stuff". Can connect easily with math concepts of volume, area, measurement, and % waste |
| Engineering Design Process: Cable Transport Students design, build and test a vehicle made of assorted "stuff" that will carry an object across the room on a string tied to two structures | Single demonstration kit | 5th-10th Upper grades need more varied options in materials and power sources | Fun and can be inexpensive but takes a little time to collect the "stuff" |
| Engineering Design Process: Balloon Powered Vehicles Students design, build and test balloon powered cars | Classroom set for 24 students | 4th to Adult depending on the parameters you put in place | Fun activity and many ways to vary it by bringing in efficiency, cost (give a value to each element) and, of course, speed. Easy to connect to math via timing, efficiency or weight, distance and cost |
| Engineering Design - Water Wheels | Testing unit and supply box and Power Point | Works well for 4th-9th grade | Good for EDP as well as Kinetic and Potential energy introductions and doing work |